“As soon as the fight was over, I told my coaches that I made it look easy.” That was the first thing 31-year-old super featherweight O’Shaquie “Shock” Foster said following his dominant performance on July 6.
However, the moments after would take him from the best feeling in the world to the worst, as the scores not only suggested the fight was closer than it appeared, but he lost his title to Robson Conceição (19-2-1, 9 KOs). The decision sent fans into an uproar, leading to an immediate rematch, scheduled for this Saturday night at the Turning Stone Resort & Casino in Verona, NY.
Having Regrets
Although Foster (22-3, 12 KOs) has had a career filled with starts and stops when he was with his former promoter, Dibella Entertainment, signing with Top Rank toward the end of 2023 was the fresh start he needed. Months later, he defeated Abraham “Super” Nova, leading to the summer showdown with Conceicao. That night, Foster was the matador to the bull Conceicao, and it was clear even to casual fans on social media that Foster should’ve gotten the decision. But this is boxing, and when the scorecards were read, fans in the arena and on social media were shocked but not surprised, as judges’ scoring has been the topic of discussion lately. The scorecards read 116-112 for Conceicao, 116-112 for Foster, and 115-113 for Conceicao, making it a split decision victory for the Brazilian Conceicao.
Foster had the look of someone who just woke up from a bad dream. He didn’t know what to say or what to do. “I was confused,” said Foster. “I really thought it [scorecards] was going to be a wipeout, so when I heard the first scorecard, I was like ‘f%ck.’ Then the last one came, and I just couldn’t believe it. I didn’t understand. I was questioning if I knew boxing. That’s really how it hit me. I didn’t understand at all.
“I guess it hit me so hard [mentally] because I ain’t really get hit in that fight. My defense is always good, but that night, my stuff was on point. The only thing I really felt was the headbutt; that was it. Other than that, I was clear-headed after the fight.”
The decision has ignited a new fire inside Foster as he heads into his first rematch as a pro. “I understand what I have to do now,” said Foster. One thing he looks forward to in the rematch is being familiar with his opponent’s tendencies. Whether that is an advantage or not, we will all soon find out when they meet for the second time in four months.
With everything that happened, what did Foster learn about himself as he navigated the rollercoaster of emotions that night and the days after, leading up to the rematch announcement? “Never take the easy way out,” Foster said. “Always put everything into whatever it is, and you are going to get the outcome you are looking for. I felt like I could have done a lot more even though the fight was easy.”
The Rematch = The New “Shock”?
With all the attention the first fight’s outcome received, the rematch was ordered only a few weeks after the July 6 fight, and Foster went right into his training camp. This time, Foster enters as the challenger, looking to recapture the WBC title he felt was wrongfully taken from him. He admitted that he’s no different than most people in that he “hates losing,” so for him, “every fight is a must-win.”
As the old saying goes, “Fool me once, shame on you; fool me twice, shame on me.” Foster hopes to avoid the latter on Saturday night as he looks to keep his foot on the pedal throughout the fight to avoid the disaster that occurred in July. Foster expects to be “explosive” on fight night. But what does being explosive mean for those who have seen him fight already? “They’ve never seen this ‘Shock’ before. That’s all I’m going to say.” Conceição vs. Foster 2 will stream live on ESPN+, and Foster hopes to once again have the WBC title around his waist at the end of the night.
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